1.) Alfred Jesse Smith (born July 26, 1941 in Shreveport, Louisiana), better known by the stage name Brenton Wood, is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his two 1967 hits: Oogum Boogum Song and Gimme Little Sign.
When he was a child his family moved west to San Pedro in Los Angeles, California. In his high school years his family relocated to nearby Compton, where Brenton became a member of the Compton High School track team and received several awards for his athletic achievements.
Following his high school graduation, Wood enrolled in Compton College. Soon after he took the stage name Brenton Wood, possibly inspired by the wealthy Los Angeles enclave of Brentwood (some sources state that the name is in honor of his "home county"). During his period there his musical interests began to manifest themselves. He was inspired by Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke, and he began cultivating his songwriting skills, also becoming an accomplished pianist.
After signing with Double Shot Records he had a hit with "The Oogum Boogum Song" in the spring of 1967. It reached number 19 on the R&B charts and number 34 on the pop listing. His biggest hit came in September the same year. "Gimme Little Sign" hit #9 on the pop chart and also #19 on the R&B charts. In the song gimme little sign is not sung, instead the chorus repeats "give me some kind of sign".
"Gimme Little Sign" was later covered by Danielle Brisebois who had a hit with it in 1994. "Gimme Little Sign" was also recorded by Ricky Nelson.
Some of his more unknown songs are also worth listening to, such as "Me and You," "Baby You Got It," and "18 With a Bullet."
Come Softly To Me
Brenton Wood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
Mm dooby do
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come to me, stay)
(You're my ob-session)
(For ever and a day)
I want, want you to know
I love, I love you so
Please hold, hold me so tight
All through, all through the night
(Speak softly, darling)
(Hear what I say)
(I love you always)
(Always, always)
I've waited, waited so long
For your kisses and your love
Please come, come to me
From up, from up above
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
I need, need you so much
Wanna feel your warm touch
Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
The song "Come Softly To Me" by Brenton Wood is a classic love song from the 1960s. The song opens with a catchy tune, "mm dooby do," which then leads to the main lyrics of the song: "come softly, darling, come to me, stay." These lyrics suggest that the singer is deeply in love and is pleading with his partner to stay with him. The singer is obsessed with his partner and is willing to do anything to keep her by his side.
The next verse continues with the theme of love and affection, with the singer declaring his love for his partner and asking her to hold him tight. The chorus then repeats, with the singer asking his partner to speak softly to him and to hear his declaration of love. He repeats his love for her and his desire to have her by his side forever.
The final verse continues the theme of the singer's love for his partner and his willingness to wait for her. He asks that she come to him from above and that he needs her so much. The song then ends with the catchy "mm dooby do" tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
The singer begins with a nonsensical sound which emphasizes the rhythm of the song.
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
The singer repeats the rhythm to create a catchy melody.
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
The singer continues to repeat the rhythm to maintain the melody.
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
The singer adds a slight variation to the rhythm.
Mm dooby do
The singer repeats the nonsensical sound to emphasize the melody.
(Come softly, darling)
The singer begins the lyrics with a plea for his loved one to approach him gently.
(Come softly, darling)
The singer repeats the plea to emphasize his desire for a gentle approach.
(Come softly, darling)
The singer repeats the plea to emphasize his desire for a gentle approach.
(Come softly, darling)
The singer repeats the plea to emphasize his desire for a gentle approach.
(Come to me, stay)
The singer wants his loved one to stay with him.
(You're my ob-session)
The singer communicates the depth of his feelings for his loved one.
(For ever and a day)
The singer expresses his desire for a long-lasting relationship.
I want, want you to know
The singer expresses his desire to make his feelings known.
I love, I love you so
The singer expresses the depth of his love for his loved one.
Please hold, hold me so tight
The singer wants to be held tightly by his loved one.
All through, all through the night
The singer wants to be held tightly throughout the night.
(Speak softly, darling)
The singer wants his loved one to speak gently to him.
(Hear what I say)
The singer wants his loved one to pay attention to what he is saying.
(I love you always)
The singer reiterates his love for his loved one and his desire for a lasting relationship.
(Always, always)
The singer emphasizes his desire for a lasting relationship.
I've waited, waited so long
The singer communicates his sense of waiting for his loved one.
For your kisses and your love
The singer expresses his desire for physical affection from his loved one.
Please come, come to me
The singer implores his loved one to come to him.
From up, from up above
The singer suggests that his loved one's arrival would be heaven-sent.
(Come softly, darling)
The singer repeats his plea for a gentle approach.
(Come softly, darling)
The singer repeats his plea for a gentle approach.
I need, need you so much
The singer expresses his intense need for his loved one.
Wanna feel your warm touch
The singer expresses his desire for physical affection from his loved one.
Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
The singer repeats the nonsensical sound to maintain the melody.
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
The singer repeats the rhythm to maintain the melody.
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
The singer repeats the rhythm to maintain the melody.
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
The singer adds a slight variation to the rhythm to close the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY TROXEL, BARBARA ELLIS, GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind